Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP)

Every two years, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) adopts a new Fund Estimate, which comprises of anticipated Federal and State revenues for the next five years. This adopted Fund Estimate includes County Shares, referred to as Regional Improvement Program (RIP) monies, which could be used by Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPA's) to propose the financing of regional transportation projects in their Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) documents. RTPA's are required to submit their adopted RTIP's to the CTC by December 15th for programming consideration and possible inclusion in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Only projects programmed in the STIP may request funding allocations for implementation.

Being the designated RTPA for the Merced Region, MCAG is responsible for preparing and submitting the adopted RTIP proposal to the CTC for programming consideration.

Stip Fund Estimate

On August 16, 2017, the CTC adopted the 2018 STIP Guidelines and Fund Estimate. New RIP programming capacities for our Merced Region have been identified.

Included in the Fund Estimate are regional monies for Planning, Programming and Monitoring (PPM). The amount available to our Merced Region, for the period FY 2020/21 through FY 2022/23, is $495,000.

PUblic Participation Process

The projects considered in the 2018 RTIP were consistent with the adopted MCAG 2014 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), a comprehensive 25-year plan for the region's transportation systems. The RTP included a prioritized list of highest-priority, regionally-significant projects.

To kick off the RTIP development process, staff prepared the 2018 RTIP concept report for circulation to the MCAG committees and board. The RTIP concept addressed the background, process, draft Fund Estimate (expected County Share / region’s programming capacity), schedule and possible projects (status and costs and prior actions).The RTIP concept provided the following information:

What is the RTIP?

What is the RTIP Fund Estimate?

What are the prerequisite STIP requirements for programming?

What are the possible projects, and their outlooks?

What funding opportunities exist, such as partnering with Caltrans?

What is the schedule for developing (and for submitting) the RTIP?

What is the schedule for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)?

Given available funding and circumstances, what is the staff recommendations for the RTIP programming proposal?

A RTIP development flowchart was included with the concept report to visually depict the overview process for better understanding.

Prior to the MCAG's Board's action, the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and the Technical Review Board (TRB) reviewed the 2018 RTIP concept and made their recommendation.

Once programming direction was given by the MCAG Board, staff prepared the draft RTIP document, which got released for a 30-day public review and comment period. A public hearing was scheduled to receive public comments. In preparing the Final 2018 RTIP, staff reviewed comments and addressed them as appropriate.

The Final 2018 RTIP again was brought before the CAC and TRB. In November, the MCAG Board approved the Final 2018 RTIP.

Development Schedule

Action

Date

Draft 2018 RTIP - Public Comment Period

October 2 to November 3, 2017

Draft 2018 RTIP - Public Hearing

October 19, 2017

Final 2018 RTIP - For Board Adoption

November 16, 2017

Submittal of Adopted 2018 RTIP to CTC

Prior to December 15, 2017

CTC STIP Hearings

January 25 and February 1, 2018

CTC Publishes Staff Recommendations

February 28, 2018

CTC Adopts 2018 STIP

March 21 to 22, 2018

Proposal for Programming

On September 21, 2017, the MCAG Board provided the following direction to staff for the 2018 RTIP programming proposal.

In the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP) proposal, Caltrans proposed the programming of $34,500,000 Interregional Improvement Program (IIP) funds in FY 2021/22 for the construction of State Route 99 Livingston Widening Northbound Project. Partnering with Caltrans, MCAG proposed the programming of $5,500,000 RIP funds in the same fiscal year, which will supplement the construction cost.

MCAG also proposed to program our Planning, Programming and Monitoring (PPM), in the amount of $495,000, in the FY 2020/21.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in the conduct of its business, including its Title VI responsibilities, and to the delivery of equitable and accessible transportation. Any person who believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination under Title VI on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender, or disability may file a Title VI complaint with MCAG within 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination.View information on the Title VI program (PDF), including how to file a complaint with MCAG. View the appendices (PDF).